The Complete Cast Iron Cookbook

What a beautiful book -- this definitely met my expectations & more! I've been cooking with cast iron for decades -- when I got married, I started off with an 8" skillet for bacon & eggs and a flat round griddle for pancakes and tortillas. At the time, cast iron was not pre-seasoned and my parents didn't use cast iron at all, so this type of cooking was entirely new to me so there was a learning curve! Well, all these years later, I still have them, and now I have dozens of other pieces of cast iron, too -- everything from tiny skillets for brownies and dutch baby pancakes to huge 15 & 17" skillets + platters and pizza pans and dutch ovens. They no longer fit in my kitchen cupboards, so my husband ended up making me a special rack to store them all, and then a second one. I use at least one cast iron pan every day that I cook, and often two or three -- they are so easy to use, dishes come out perfectly and clean up is a breeze (now that I know how). This type of cookware just works for me...so I am always looking for new ways to use it. My husband and daughters prefer lighter-weight cookware, but my son enjoys using cast iron (so he will be inheriting a lot of it)! The introduction to this cookbook will be helpful for those new to cast iron cooking. This book has something for everyone, from beginners to those that are already expert cooks. There are plenty of basic recipes to get started with but also a lot of interesting dishes that will keep me busy for a long time -- everything from simple meat and chicken dishes, but also fancier fare such as paella and moussaka + quiches, breads, pizza, pies & galettes. I learned to cook from cookbooks that didn't feature very many pictures (if any) so I don't choose or rate one on this basis, but I know that these days, this is an important consideration for others and I have to say that the pictures in this book are great and there are a lot of them -- every recipe is pictured. When I buy a cookbook, I want it to last -- and I'm happy to say that this is a high quality volume. This is a big, heavy book and the binding feels very sturdy. The pages are thick and heavy and each recipe begins on its own page. The prep time as well as total time is given. The list of ingredients is on the left side of the page and the instructions on the right, and both are easy to follow. The recipes are printed against various light-patterned backgrounds, some with charming graphics which gives it a nice, vintage look and I think makes this cookbook even nicer than it already is. I have a lot of cookbooks, and this one definitely deserves a spot on my shelf of favorites. The price seems very reasonable for a cookbook of this caliber & I'm so glad I found it.

Love this book! I've already made several recipes. Clear directions and not overly complicated. Dishes you will actually make and enjoy.

Beautiful hard-back, thick book with lots and lots of pictures and recipes. Can't wait to try some of the recipes. This would make a great book for gifting, even a wedding gift. Would make a nice family airloom.

This book is a fantastic addition to my cooking library. It has great information on the care and use of cast iron products. It is full of delicious recipes and most have beautiful pictures. It would be helpful for a person new to cast iron cooking.

Had a lot of recipes in it,easy to read. Would have liked more recipes with cooking over camp fires...

I was surprised at how beautiful this hardback book was, recipes are nice and easy to use showing beginner steps and harder recipes as you go along, a great cast iron addition to have.

I bought this cookbook after buying a set of cast iron pans and was looking for some great recipes to try. First, the quality of this book is AMAZING! The pages are a thick, quality paper, and there are photos for almost every recipe. The instructions are easy and straightforward to follow, and the layout is well organized. But the best part is that there are recipes I will actually try! I've bought so many 'recommended' cookbooks only to find there were only a handful of recipes that actually appealed to me. This cookbook has incredible recipes, and I'm already creating a grocery list. I cannot wait to start using my cast iron pans and trying out all the delicious dishes in this book. If you know of someone who loves cast iron (or who is just starting with cast iron - like me), this would be a beautiful gift! I actually was going to buy this for a dear friend who cooks almost solely with cast iron, but it turned out she already had an earlier edition. Even she agreed it was one of her favorite cookbooks and suggested several of the tried and true recipes for me. Knowing that she also recommended it was all the endorsement I needed. Buy it! This is likely the only cast iron cookbook you will ever need!

There’s nothing better than cooking with cast iron. A good seasoned cast iron pan or Dutch oven makes the absolute best meals.

great collection of recipes. highly recommended

Huge book. Tried several recipes and they have been very successful.

A nice book for beginners but I wouldn't necessarily recommend for someone who has been using a cast iron pan for a long time. This was a gift for my partner and he loved it but the criticism that we both had was that many of the recipes are repeated with the only difference being the change of ingredients (e.g. a lot of focaccias, many scones etc). Also, we thought that there weren't that many ''main course'' recipes included compared to the volume of dessert recipes for example. Other than those criticisms this book is a nice idea for someone who is just starting to use a cast iron pan and wants to get some ideas and try out basic recipes until they become more familiar using it. I wouldn't recommend this book for someone who already knows how to use a cast iron pan and is looking for some new/advanced recipe ideas.

This book is fantastic! Usually cookbooks only have 4 or 5 really good recipes that I keep coming back to…but this book is literally jammed full of incredible recipes. I think it may be the last cookbook I ever purchase. The ingredients are everyday ingredients you’ll use and the photos are high quality and absolutely beautiful. I know it’s a lot for a cookbook - but it’s worth it!

My daughter and son in law loved this book. We bought it as a gift for them and it has lots of delicious recipes including desserts Beautiful hardcover book